By Todd Royal
Contributor Todd Royal, MPP is a consultant and writer who specializes in all forms of energy, foreign policy, national security and California politics. Todd writes for The National Interest,...

Todd Royal
Contributor Todd Royal, MPP is a consultant and writer who specializes in all forms of energy, foreign policy,...

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Taken together - long-term growth, prosperity and cultural enlightenment - are now the trajectory for India.

The United States Should Enhance Their Economic Relationship With India
Published on July 06, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is turning India into an economic powerhouse. It is time for the United States to recognize this and establish a special relationship with India similar to the one the US has with Britain. Modi came to office with great promise but faced difficult economic challenges. Growth had plummeted to 5.9%. That was down from a 9-year average of 8.2%. Inflation had averaged 9.7% for over two years. Corruption had also crippled the outgoing government's ability to complete large infrastructure projects and make structural reforms to the government and private sector.

Fast forward to today. New Delhi has succeeded in cutting inflation to 4.3%, and growth has averaged 7.3% since Modi came to power in May 2014. Demonetization unleashed the young, vibrant, intelligent Indian worker powering this growth. Moreover, Modi replaced byzantine layers of central-and-state-level taxes with a single good and services tax (GST). These effective measures have built trust in the government's handling of the economy and societal issues like never before in India's modern history.

Taken together – long-term growth, prosperity and cultural enlightenment – are now the trajectory for India. And the US in many ways needs India every bit as much as India needs the US to check China and deliver high-tech goods and services the Indian economy desperately needs.

US Energy Secretary Rick Perry met with his Indian counterparts in April to enhance bilateral energy cooperation. Outside of military partnerships – energy, particularly, the US energy sector – is where the Trump administration is outlining benefits for both nations. Secretary Perry said, "India offers an 'amazing opportunity' on clean coal, carbon capture, cooperation in oil and gas power, and renewable energy”. Perry also highlighted how in the last three years India increased oil imports of US crude from 300,000 to 8 million barrels, "and is a huge market for American energy products."

Civil nuclear cooperation has been a backbone of US-India relations since 2006 under the George W. Bush administration. The cooperation expanded under a 2016 deal and Westinghouse committed to build six AP1000 reactors in Andhra Pradesh. Perry had to assure his Indian counterparts the reactors would be delivered since the US Company is emerging out of bankruptcy protection. Western governments and investors worldwide are noticing Modi's economic plans are working, and India is now arguably one of the best emerging markets in the world.

The World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking for India went from 140 to 100 between 2014 and 2018. Modi can be credited for this success since it's known he regularly attends and presides over meetings of senior staff member and ministers in charge of projects that affect India's efficient governance and economic progress. These government policies have brought relief to job applicants by streamlining the use of digital services to store diplomas and, 40 million poor rural households have replaced dirty wood-and-coal-burning stoves with clean liquid petroleum gas instead.

Still, it's the fight against corruption since demonetization took place on November 8, 2016 that is changing India's future. This move by Modi ended the legal status of 500 to 1,000 rupee notes immediately while also "temporarily wiping out 86% of the nation's currency in circulation." While negative sentiments over the policy abound – like black market currency finding its way back into the Indian economy – the positives have outweighed the perceived injustices that were thought to have taken place.

India's banking sector has also closed hundreds of thousands of shell companies, disqualified an equal number of company directors and demonetization, "led to a 25% decline in the value of real estate eroding a substantial amount of black wealth held in building and structures." Modi has shown Indian citizens, the US and international investors that New Delhi has effectively countered the ability of frauds, cheats and crooks to keep gaming the Indian economy.

Efficiency under Modi has improved by replacing the Indian Planning Commission with the more modern National Institution for Transforming India (NITI). The NITI is a governmental institution that actively promotes Modi's market-friendly agenda. This allows New Delhi and outer Indian states to work together and seek one another's advice formulating sound economic policies.

Three other "special projects are worth mentioning. First, biometric cards (the Aadhaar government ID program) issued to all Indian residents, "for a strong digital identity scheme affecting banks, payments, security, compliance and financial inclusion – and is already seeing results." Second, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Modi's People's Wealth Scheme, "which is a government program that aims to expand and make affordable access to financial services such as bank accounts, remittances, credit, insurance and pensions in an affordable manner." Both programs are controversial, but these policies have brought over one billion citizens into government-assured banking services. Lastly, toilets are being built throughout India via the Swachh Bharat Mission – to curb and eliminate open-air defecation – and clean up India's cities, towns and rural areas.
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For all Modi's accomplishments there are still obstacles to overcome. International trade is still falling short due to Indian tariffs and trade barriers on textiles and apparel, which slows growth through lukewarm investments in those sectors. Additionally, over 45% of India's workforce remains in agriculture, which is a sign of an immature economy that needs that high of a percentage of its citizenry in low productive employment. Nevertheless, India has the ability and the wherewithal under Modi to expand global exports and overcome these obstacles.

The US needs to understand that Modi is the leader they are searching for to counter China in South Asia. Working with Modi and accelerating India’s economic growth is in the interest of both the United States and India. A prosperous India means a counterweight to China in the Indian Ocean, Central and Southeast Asia.

Prime Minister Modi Is Supercharging India: Details

"Prime Minister Modi Is Supercharging India" was first released on 7.6.2018 and last updated on 10.17.2018 6:52 AM EDT.
Todd Royal submitted this feature to AND Magazine.
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